Hollywood Studios is the second-best park for purchasing Walt Disney World’s Genie+ service. Lightning Lane line-skipping entry is on the market at 15 points of interest in DHS, and lots of are headliners or fashionable thrill rides. This information ranks all by way of time-saved and the way shortly they ebook up. (Updated December 9, 2022.)
The aim is to provide the instruments and information that you must create your personal DHS itinerary with Genie+, somewhat than counting on our recently-updated 1-Day Disney’s Hollywood Studios Genie+ and Lightning Lanes Plan. Or, you possibly can make the most of “a best of both worlds” strategy, consulting that pre-made plan and the rankings right here so that you perceive the why of it, and may alter the itinerary to account on your Advance Dining Reservations, most well-liked stage showtimes, Fantasmic Dining Packages or standby, whether or not you need to decrease strolling distances, and so forth.
It’s additionally most likely a good suggestion to level out that crowds, climate, experience closures, stage showtimes, and way more can all closely influence how an precise day at Walt Disney World performs out. As such, a pattern itinerary can’t be replicated step-for-step with the very same Lightning Lane time slots, and so forth. This equips you to place collectively your personal dynamic plan of assault for utilizing Genie+ in DHS.
Of course, this assumes that you simply need to ‘pay to play’ and can use the Genie+ paid FastPass possibility somewhat than merely doing standby traces. In Disney’s Hollywood Studios, that’s our suggestion. If you need to know the idea for that suggestion, see My Day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Using Genie+ with Peak Season Crowds. That illustrates simply how powerful DHS will be even with robust technique–it’s a brutal park it doesn’t matter what your strategy.
Additionally, see our Guide to Genie+ at Walt Disney World & Lightning Lane FAQ for all the foundational need-to-know information about this substitute free of charge FastPass+. This entire system is complicated and convoluted, so that you may need a query or two-dozen. That solutions all the most typical ones we’ve been receiving from readers.
Alternatively, for those who’re excited about skipping Genie+ at DHS, that’s doable, too. Our 1-Day Disney’s Hollywood Studios Itinerary covers how one can accomplish every part even for those who’re staying off-site and don’t need to spend something further on Genie+ or Individual Lightning Lanes.
If you’re staying on-site, the one factor we extremely suggest is Early Entry at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. If you possibly can’t swing getting up and out the door earlier than park opening, see Evening at DHS with Standby & Genie+ (scroll to the second half for those who’re not doing Genie+). Lots of nice technique in these posts!
Before we get began, we must always be aware that this presents experience priorities for Lightning Lanes by way of Genie+ and not Individual Lightning Lanes (ILL), that are pay-per-ride. At current, the one ILL attraction is Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Previously, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway was additionally an Individual Lightning Lane experience, however that’s now a everlasting a part of Genie+ at DHS.
We usually are not eager on shopping for a la carte entrance of line entry, so we suggest doing each of these points of interest both very first thing within the morning (for those who’re eligible for Early Entry) or in the direction of the tip of the night time. On busy days, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is doubtlessly price paying for ILL entry–it’s the one experience at Walt Disney World we’d even contemplate paying for that, and even that relies upon upon crowd ranges and wait occasions.
Now, on with the present & experience rankings for Genie+ at Disney’s Hollywood Studios…
The Best of Genie+ at DHS
1. Slinky Dog Dash – The apparent alternative on your #1 Genie+ Lightning Lane choice and never simply in DHS, however all of Walt Disney World. (It most likely ought to’ve been the second Individual Lightning Lane, however we’re not complaining!)
Whether you’re beginning at DHS or Park Hopping later, you’ll need to prioritize this early within the day, as this one books up quick–typically inside minutes of seven am. For Slinky Dog Dash, we strongly suggest following our Speed Strategy for Genie+ Selections.
2. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror – It has been an up-and-down yr for the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror’s rating. It shot up within the spring, then plummeted in the direction of the tip of summer season and was in figurative freefall up till December 2022. Earlier this yr, the spike was attributable to a prolonged “stealth” refurbishment that took one elevator shaft down. That meant that the attraction was successfully working at half-capacity for about 4 months.
When that was completed, the opposite facet didn’t go down for refurbishment through the late summer season or fall low season. However, one elevator shaft has been down since round Thanksgiving. We haven’t heard any indication that this can be a deliberate refurbishment (it might be an inopportune time for that, to say the least), however it has been ongoing for a couple of weeks now.
As a consequence, Tower of Terror has the third highest wait time (98 minutes) at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in December 2022 after Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (109 minutes) and Slinky Dog Dash (103 minutes). Suffice to say, when Tower of Terror has one elevator shaft down, it’s the #2 Genie+ Lightning Lane precedence. When working at full-capacity, it’s #4 or #5.
Note that this might change at any time, and Tower of Terror may drop once more (within the rankings). We’d thus encourage you to keep watch over wait occasions whilst you’re at Walt Disney World. If Tower of Terror is within the prime 3 rides at DHS, it’s most likely experiencing technical difficulties and you must prioritize reserving its Lightning Lane. If not, it can save you it on your fourth or fifth choice.
3. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway – This one could be a bit surprising. Earlier this yr, it appeared the “new ride smell” was carrying off Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. The common wait time was dropping, and the attraction was sometimes not within the prime 5. That has modified as of Late 2022, with Runaway Railway as soon as once more being in excessive demand. Its family-friendly and all ages (and heights) nature makes it extra interesting for lots of Genie+ friends, so it tends to be the #2 or #3 Lightning Lane of the day at DHS.
4. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run – This is the secondary attraction in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, however it nonetheless averages a prime 5 wait time in Disney’s Hollywood Studios and is the third-fastest reserving Lightning Lane experience reservation by way of Genie+. It shouldn’t be too tough to safe this into the afternoon, so you could have slightly flexibility in reserving this strategically relying upon your most well-liked return time and private priorities.
5. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith – Those of you who booked FastPass+ reservations up to now needs to be unsurprised by the highest picks to date. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster extends that, thanks to attend occasions commonly exceeding an hour. Its Lightning Lane reservations have but to ebook up early within the day, however it’s nonetheless a savvy third choice.
6. Toy Story Mania – Every park has one attraction that “soaks up” Genie+ experience reservations, allocating a good portion of its capability to line-skipping. Toy Story Mania is unquestionably that for Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Its standby wait time has spiked since Genie+ launched (making this a great use of the Lightning Lane), however there’s sometimes simple availability by way of Genie+ for Toy Story Mania all through the day.
7. Alien Swirling Saucers – Based on common standby wait occasions alone, this can be a good seventh decide. Subjectively, most individuals are most likely good to skip the Toy Story Land flat experience.
The Rest of Genie+ at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Star Tours — The Adventures Continue – This wonderful Star Wars simulator can have decently lengthy waits on the busiest days of the yr, however most traditional days, we’ve discovered Genie+ to supply nearly no benefit right here. Get it for those who can, however don’t sweat standby.
Meet Olaf at Celebrity Spotlight – There are a couple of deceptively fashionable meet & greets at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This isn’t one in all them. Unfortunately, Olaf at Celebrity Spotlight is the one one that gives a Lightning Lane. (Accordingly, we suggest doing Red Carpet Dreams and the Monsters, Inc. meet & greet earlier within the day or later within the night.)
Stage Shows – Everything else at Disney’s Hollywood Studios–Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage, Disney Jr. Play & Dance, Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, MuppetVision 3D–is a present of some type, or at the least not a experience.
While Genie+ presents precedence seating, which may quantity to a greater view, it’s sometimes not all that advantageous for exhibits. If you’re not going to Park Hop, you may think about using it for these exhibits, however there’s not a great way to place Lightning Lane reservations for these into your itinerary through the center of the day. The alternative price of not reserving one of many prime 6 rides is just too excessive. The overwhelming majority of friends ought to merely do exhibits by way of the standby traces.
Ultimately, you must be capable of knock out most points of interest by way of Genie+ utilizing Lightning Lanes on a good day in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The largest impediment could be your first decide, as Slinky Dog Dash goes quick each single morning, particularly throughout peak season.
You will miss out fully on it for those who’re not up and able to make your first choice at 7 am. Other than that, you shouldn’t have a lot of an issue scoring slots for the remaining prime 5 picks (besides possibly Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run), as long as you’re keen to remain all day and don’t thoughts reservations within the afternoon.
On a nasty day, you won’t solely miss out on Slinky Dog Dash, but in addition on one other headliner or two within the prime 5. Plan accordingly primarily based on the crowds whenever you’ll be visiting, and likewise give your self as many different benefits as doable–like Early Entry, rope drop, or staying late when crowds are likely to die down at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Regardless of whenever you’re visiting, Genie+ will prevent the second-most time at DHS, behind solely Magic Kingdom, which earns that distinction due to its larger eligible attraction rely. This is what makes shopping for Genie+ our suggestion for most individuals and on most days of the yr at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Even if it requires a little bit of a splurge, reduce the price out of your Walt Disney World trip funds some other place.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Learn about resorts on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To lower your expenses on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips submit takes a novel have a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to start out is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for every part that you must know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
How would you rank your experience priorities utilizing Genie+ and Lightning Lanes in Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Surprised by any of the rankings in our prime 5, or that Slinky Dog Dash takes the #1 spot? Are you planning on shopping for Genie+ or skipping it? Do you agree or disagree with our rankings? Any questions we might help you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!